Why do dogs tongues turn black after death? Here’s the Answer

Symptoms of tongue necrosis in dogs

As the title of this article suggests, the most noticeable symptom of tongue necrosis in dogs is discoloration of the organ itself. It will not necessarily look black immediately, initially turning cyanotic, i.e. a bluish/purplish color. There will be a red lining around the necrotic areas. As time progresses, the tongue coloration will darken and start to look black as the tissue loss occurs.

In addition to discoloration, the symptoms of tongue necrosis in dogs include:

Pain in the oral cavity

Anorexia causes a loss of appetite as a consequence of pain in the oral cavity. Learn more about canine weight loss with our article on why a dog is losing weight.

Dysphagia (difficulty swallowing)

Sialorrhea (drooling), caused by inability to keep saliva in the mouth

Treatment of tongue necrosis in dogs

The treatment of tongue necrosis can vary depending on the severity of the process and the underlying cause. In general, the therapeutic approach to this alteration may include the following:

Support treatment: aims to treat the pain and discomfort associated with this process, until healing occurs. Among other medications, pain relievers or sedatives can be administered, even helping the healing of the tongue using laser therapy.

Specific treatment: once the cause of the tongue necrosis has been identified, it is essential to establish a specific therapy against it. Otherwise, the necrosis process could continue advancing. For example, in the case of chronic kidney disease in dogs, it will be necessary to establish medical treatment (hypotensive agents, fluid therapy, etc.) and diet. In the case of vasculitis, treatment with corticosteroids will be necessary to prevent vascular damage from progressing further. In case of leptospirosis, antibiotic treatment will be required.

Surgical treatment: in severe cases, surgical intervention may be necessary to remove the necrotic tissue.

How can you help your dog?

Let your dog sleep as much as he or she likes. Provide them with a comfortable and quiet place to rest. Keep your dog away from loud noises, boisterous kids, and the commotion of family members fighting.

Inappetence is a common side effect of terminal or chronic illness and old age.

Your dog may start eating less and may have a hard time finishing his or her daily portion. This reduced appetite may be a consequence of certain cancer treatments or terminal illnesses.

Dogs with cancer may be nauseated from chemotherapy or they may not have a large appetite due to certain tumors pushing on their digestive tract, thus requiring smaller meals. Dogs with mast cell tumors may also have reduced appetite due to the fact that these tumors release histamines which cause increased stomach acid production and nausea. Nauseous dogs may drool visibly and smack their lips.

Disinterest in Food: A reduced appetite in dying dogs is natural. The body simply no longer needs the energy from food as it once did. Dogs may have a lack of appetite out of the blue or may go through cycles of normal and abnormal appetite.

Picky Eating: Many dogs will eagerly eat cookies, treats, or people food, but may turn their nose at kibble or dog food. Some dogs may eat only warmed-up meals. Other dogs may develop some new quirks such as eating only if they are hand-fed or only if the food is placed on the floor.

As dog owners, we feel very saddened by their loss of appetite because we associate feeding our dogs with nourishment and taking good care of them. For dogs on medications, food is often used to hide capsules and tablets. Medicating can become particularly frustrating when food is no longer desired. Dog owners often have to get particularly creative to get their dogs to take pills.

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